IGN has posted a new interview with Transformers Prime executive producer Jeff Kline. In the interview Kline discuses the upcoming final chapter in the Transformers Prime saga, Beast Hunters, and touches on the next iteration of the franchise, which he says will be driven by the Prime group of characters. Click here to read the full interview.

IGN: Can you talk about the introduction of the Predacons?

Kline: Well, actually, we had started working on Season 3 and writing Season 3 before we got permission from brand to use the beasts. And then that kind of came through and we did a little rejiggering, but not a lot. It actually ended up being a fantastic thing for us, because we’re always talking about, ‘How do we keep shifting allegiances? How do we keep the sides out of balance?' Especially having the Autobots be at a disadvantage, in comparison to the Decepticons - and bringing in the Predacons really let us do that. It really let us upset the apple cart in a way that I think we benefited from and hopefully we take it to a place that surprises and satisfies.

IGN: We’ve gotten hints at another iteration of a Transformers animated series coming in the next year or so. Will you be involved with that?

Kline: Yeah, at the moment it seems like both Hasbro and The Hub would like this group that did Prime to be involved in the next iteration, which I, of course, appreciate and we would love to do. We’re kind of in the earliest stages of development and character work and conceptual stuff, but if all goes according to plan, yes, there will be a new iteration of Transformers and the Prime group will be the group driving it.

Caelus wrote:My wife pointed out something interesting about the prehistoric Predacons. I said that everyone was complaining because transforming for them mostly consisted of them just standing up-right. She essentially said, 'So? That's what our ancestors did.'

El Duque wrote:IGN has posted a new interview with Transformers Prime executive producer Jeff Kline. In the interview Kline discuses the upcoming final chapter in the Transformers Prime saga, Beast Hunters, and touches on the next iteration of the franchise, which he says will be driven by the Prime group of characters. Click here to read the full interview.

IGN: Can you talk about the introduction of the Predacons?

Kline: Well, actually, we had started working on Season 3 and writing Season 3 before we got permission from brand to use the beasts. And then that kind of came through and we did a little rejiggering, but not a lot. It actually ended up being a fantastic thing for us, because we’re always talking about, ‘How do we keep shifting allegiances? How do we keep the sides out of balance?' Especially having the Autobots be at a disadvantage, in comparison to the Decepticons - and bringing in the Predacons really let us do that. It really let us upset the apple cart in a way that I think we benefited from and hopefully we take it to a place that surprises and satisfies.

IGN: We’ve gotten hints at another iteration of a Transformers animated series coming in the next year or so. Will you be involved with that?

Kline: Yeah, at the moment it seems like both Hasbro and The Hub would like this group that did Prime to be involved in the next iteration, which I, of course, appreciate and we would love to do. We’re kind of in the earliest stages of development and character work and conceptual stuff, but if all goes according to plan, yes, there will be a new iteration of Transformers and the Prime group will be the group driving it.

The wording is a little vague, but from what I gather, it's not the Prime characters as a group that will be in the new iteration, but the group that worked on Prime. Check out what I underlined and bolded in the paragraphs above. At least that's what I gather. Otherwise, why would they be saying that TF:Prime is coming to an end with Beast Hunters, and then use the exact same characters in a new series? Why not just continue with TF:Prime if you're not using an entirely new cast? They also mention they're in the earliest stages of character work, which wouldn't suggest a cast roll-over to a new series, and that leads me to conclude it'll be a different franchise.

My guess (though it may be completely off) is it'd be a prequel to the new movie out next year, then when the movie is out, that'll be the main story, and in between movies (since they did announce TF5 and TF6, too) the story will continue in the TV series.

As long as they actually learn from their mistakes (*cough*season 2*cough*), I'm willing to give the production team a second chance. A chance at redemption.

Hopefully next time it'll be more Animated (character development and rich continuity) and less anime (repetitive collect the X, showy yet uneventful battles, potential threads dropped for convenience).